Variating device for dispensing machines



April 19, 1960 E. MIHALK ETAL VARIATING DEVICE FOR DISFENSING MACHINESFiled sept. 15, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNg/ENTORS fmer/ Mzhalek BY lessjyfer dfi/f' zigffef @nml/Z997 April 19, 1960 E. MlHALEK ETAL 2,932,976

VARIATING DEVICE FOR DISPENSING MACHINES Filed Sept. 15, 1955 4Sheets-s116612 2 Mullin 4 fior/76475 April 19, 1960 E. MIHALEK ETAL.2,932,976

VARIATING DEVICE FOR DISPENSING MACHINES Filed Sept. 15, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG@ ma INVENTORJ mryglizalek ar e5 el* Bbw/@05WHz'arneys April 19, 1960 E. MIHALEK ETAL VARIATING DEVICE FOR DISPENSINGMACHINES Filed Sept. l5, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 VARIATING DEVICE FRDISPENSING MACHINES Emery Mihalek and Chartes Szyper, Chicago, lll.,assignors to Hershey Mfg. Co., Chicago, lll., a corporation of IllinoisApplication September 1S, 1955, Serial No. 534,566

12 Claims. (Cl. 74-96) This invention relates to dispensing machines orvarious other types of machines, and pertains particularly to variatingdevices for such machines.

The present invention comprises improvements which are applicable tomachines of the type disclosed in the following United States patents:1,562,771, 1,586,455, 1,570,910, 1,677,647, 1,697,537, 1,706,896,1,798,416, 1,923,945, and 2,477,137.

One principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improveddevice whereby the operation of a dispensing machine or the like isvaried in a random or impositive manner.

lt is a further object to provide a new and improved device whereby theinteraction between a pair of relatively movable elements of a machineis varied in a somewhat indeterminate manner.

Another object is to provide a new and improved variating device inwhich a roller of non-uniform radius forms an operating connectionbetween first and second members and is adapted to be rotatedimpositively by a third member as an incident to relative movementbetween said iirst and third members so as to vary the interactionbetween the first and second members.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will lappear from the`following description, taken with the 4accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a dispensing machineconstituting an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, theview being taken along a line 1-1 in Fig. 6; v

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but with the machine in a changedposition;

Fig. 3 is an elevational sectional view of the machine, taken generallyalong a line 3 3 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the machine shown in a changedposition;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view takengenerally along a line S--S in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevational view of the machine with certain partsremoved for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary right side elevational view, itaken generally asindicated by the line 7-7 in Fig. 6, certain of the parts omitted fromFig. 6 being shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 8 is an elevational sectional View taken generally :along a line8-8 in Fig. l

Figs. 9 and l0 are fragmentary views similar to Fig. 8 but showing themachine in changed positions; and

Fig. l1 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view taken generallyalong aline 11-11 in Fig. 8.

It will be seen that the drawings illustrate a dispensing machine havinga magazine 12 (Figs. 1 and 8-10) adapted to hold a supply of articles tobe dispensed. As illustrated, the magazine is in the form of a generallyvertical tube adapted to hold a stack of the articles, which may be inthe form of ilat disks or the like. To disx1charge the articles, acircular opening 14 is formed in a tes atento,"

2,932,976. Patented Apr. 19, 1960 horizontal base plate '16. It will beseen that the opening 14 is displaced rearwardly from the magazine 12.

To carry the articles from the magazin-e 12 to the discharge opening 14,the machine is equipped with a plurality of movable slides or otherdispensing members arranged in vertically superimposed relation. In thisinstance, there are tive dispensing slides 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22. Eachof the slides 18-22 is biased rearwardly by means of a spring 24. Aboveand below the slides 18-22 are apertured upper and lower gates 26 .and27. However, the construction and function of these gates 26 and 27 isnot material to the present invention and hence need not be described indetail. The dispensing slides 18-22 have respective vertical apertures28-32 adapted to receive one or more of the disk-like articles from themagazine 12 and carry them to the discharge opening 14. In the initialposition of the machine, as shown in Fig. l, all of the apertures 28-32are alined with the magazine 12. Accordingly, the disk-like articleswill descend by gravity from the magazine into the apertures. Thedispensing operation is accomplished by moving one or more of the slidesrearwardly so that the apertures in the slides will be alined with thedischarge opening 14, whereupon the disk-like articles contained in theapertures will fall through the discharge opening.

To actuate the dispensing slides 18-22, the machine is provided with anexternal, manually operable actuating lever or other member 34 (Fig. 7),which is mounted on the outer end of a pivot shaft 36 supported by andpassing through a right hand side frame 38. The lever 34- isconveniently accessible for manual operation. The lever 34, or anextension thereof, not shown, will extend outwardly through an aperturein any casing, not shown, that may be provided to enclose the machine.The lever 34 is adapted to operate a composite trip lever 40 by means ofan escapement 42.

It will be seen that the trip lever 40 has a shaft portion 44 (Fig. 6)provided with right and left hand journals 46 and 48 which are mountedin bearings 50 and 52. Extending forwardly on the trip lever 40 is apointed escapement arm 54 which is normally engaged by a pawl 56 carriedby the actuating lever 34. When the actuating lever 34 is swung manuallyin a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 6, the pawl 56 liftsthe arm 54 so as to swing the trip lever 40 clockwise. After apredetermined amount of movement of the actuating lever 34, the arm 54escapes from the pawl 56 and returns in a counterclockwise directionunder the biasing impetus of a spring 58. The actuating lever 34 must bereturned manually in a clockwise direction. To prevent premature returnof the lever 34, a two-way pawl 60 is arranged to engage a segmentalratchet 62 on the lever 34.

The initial, clockwise swinging movement of the trip lever 4t: iseffective to reset the dispensing slides iti-22 into theirarticle-receiving positions in vertical alinement with the magazine 12.Such resetting action is brought about by means of a depending arm 64(Fig. 8) on the lever 40. It will be seen that a link 66 is connectedbetween the arm 64 and a push pin 68 which is slidably guided in anupright projection 70 formed on the base plate 16. The pin 68 is adaptedto engage an upright flange member or linger 72 formed on the rear endof the lowermost dispensing slide 18. This iinger 72 extends upwardlyalong the rear ends of the other dispensing slides 19-22 and hence isadapted to push the slides forwardly. The clockwise initial movement ofthe trip lever 40 advances the pin '68. As shown to best advantage inFig. 3, the pin 68 engages the finger 72, which in turn engages any ofthe slides `19--22 which have been moved to dispensing positions. Thefinger 72 pushes the slides forwardly into their article-receivingpositions.

When the dispensing slides 18-22 reach their fully advanced,article-receiving positions underneath the magazine 12, they are latchedby means of a latching arm 7.4 (Figs. 1 and 2) which swings behind theiinger 72 on the lowermost slide 18. It will be seen that ythe arm 74 isformed on a horizontal latching lever 76 which is biasedcounterclockwise by a spring 78.. Thus the spring is eiective to swingthe arm 74 into its latching position. A pivot 79 supports the lever 76.

A horizontal, movable member 80, shown as a lever supported on the pivot79, is provided to swing the latching lever 76 clockwise and therebydisengage the latching arm 74 from the finger 72 on the lowermostdispensing slide 18. In this way, the dispensing slidesiS-ZZ areconditioned for rearward movement between their articlereceiving andarticle-dispensing positions. l During the clockwise initial movement ofthe trip lever 40, the horizontal lever 80 is swung forwardly so as topermit the latching arm 74 to move behind the inger 72. Such forwardmovement of the lever 80 is effected in the present case by means of alink 82 which is connected between the 1 lever 80 and a secondhorizontalmovable member shown as a lever 84 with a pivot 85. To actuate the lever84, the machine is provided with a movable member which takes the formof a depending arm 86 on the trip l'ever 4t). The arm 86`is engageablewith lan eccentric roller 88 mounted on Vthe lever 84. initial clockwisemovement of the trip lever 40 vswings the depending arm 36 in a forwarddirection so'that it engages the roller 88 and thereby swings the levers84- and 80 forwardly. Upon return movement` of the trip lever 40, thedepending arm 86 moves away from the roller 88 to permit return of thelever 84 under the yimpetus of a biasing spring 96. n

Return movement of the lever 84 is preferably retarded by means of asuitable retarding mechanism 92 (Figs. l, 2 and 6). The illustratedretarding mechanism 92 is of the air fan type. Thus, a two-armed fan 94is arranged to be driven at high speed by the lever 84V during itsreturnrmovement. During return movement'of the lever 84, a one-wayratchet clutch 96 (Fig. 6) connects the lever toa gear 98 whichdrives'the fan 94'through a conventional speed-multiplying gear train100. The air resistance offered to rotation of the fan 94 retards thereturn movement of the levers 84 and 80. Near its rearward limit oftravel, the lever 80 engages an upstanding projection 102 on the'latching lever 76 and thereby swings the latching lever in a clockwisedirectionV so as'to disengage the arm 74 from the iinger 72 on thelowermost dispensing slide 18.

' After the slides l1'8-22 have been released by the master latching arm74, the rearward movement of the slides is controlled by means of asuitable selector mechanism 104 (Fig. 8) which, however, is not materialto the present invention and hence need not be described in detail. Theselector mechanism operates in such manner that it may release one ormore of the slides for rearward lmovement into dispensing position. Dueto the provision of the finger 72, the lowermost slide 18 must bereleased for rearward movement' before any of the other slides 19-22 cantravel rearwardly.

It will suiiice to note that the selector mechanism 104 comprises aplurality of individual latches 106 (Figs. l and 2), one latch beingprovided for each of the slides 18-22. The selector mechanism is arangedto release the latches 106 in various combinations during the returnmovement of the lever 80. When the master latching arm 74 is released,as shown in Fig. l, those slides for which the vindividual latches 106are also released will travel rearwardly under the impetus of thebiasing springs 24. When the slides are reset forwardly by the push pin68, the latches 106 are returned into latching position v'by means ofindividual biasing springs 103.

Fig. 9 illustrates one possible dispensing position of the machine inwhich 'thethree lower dispensing slides 18, 19 and 20 are shiftedrarwardly so that the aper-V tures 28, 29 and 30 therein are inoverlying relation to the discharge opening 14. 20 in this position, thedisk-like articles carried in the apertures `will be dispensed throughthe opening 14.

Spurious operation ot' the lowermost dispensing slide 18 is prevented bymeans of an automatic locking device 110 which retains the lowermostslide'18 in its dispensing position, once it has been moved to thisposition by legitimate operation of the machine. It will be seen fromFigs. 8-10, that the locking device 110 comprises a locking pawl orlatch 112 connected by means of a pivot 114 to a bracket 116 which inturn is mounted on an arm 118 extending forwardly on the trip lever 40.The pawl 112 has a limited range of free swinging movement relative tothe arm 118. This range of free movement, or

lost motion, is dened -by an arcuate slot 120 formed in the pawl'112.The bracket 116 carries a headed pin 1.22 which extends through the slot120 and-limits the movement of the pawl 112.

lt will be seenthat the pawl 112 is formed with a depending vtooth 124`which denes a rearwardly facing latching shoulder 126. An inclined camsurface 128 is formed along the front of the pawl I112 and is arrangedto face downwardly and forwardly. When the lowermost dispensing slidetravels rearwardly to its dispensing position, the iinger 72 engages thecam surface 128 so as to displace the pawl 112 upwardly. Thus, the pawl112 offers no resistance to rearward movement of the slides V18422. Oncethe lowermost slide 18 has reached its dispensing position atthe'rearmost limit of its travel, the .pawl 112'mov`es downwardly, underthe biasing action-of gravity, with the tooth V124 and latchingshoulder'l-Zin front of the finger 72. 1t is then impossible to move thelowermost dispensing slide 18 `in a forward direction until thepawl 112is released.

The pawl 112 is automatically released by actuation ofthe machine in thenormal manner. Thus, initial clockwise actuating-movementof theV triplever 40 swings the arm 118 upwardly. This raises the pawl 112 so thatthe latchi'ng shoulder 126 will be disengaged from the finger 72. 'Suchreleasing movement of thevpawl 112 occurs before the push pin 68 engagesthe finger 72.

vIn addition to operating the latching lever 76, the horizontal lever'80is arranged to control three lbrake or-stop'levers 130, 131 and 1132which -in turn are eiiective to control the operation of the selectormechanism 104,in a manner not material to the presentinve'ntion. Thelevers 1311-132 are independently swingabie on a pivot shaft 133.

During the clockwise operation of the trip lever 40, the leversy13G-1352 are swung counterclockwise (Fig. 8) against the biasing actionof respective springs 134, one spring being provided for each lever.Such joint movement of'the levers 1'30-132 is brought about by means ofa'b'ell crank lever 136 which includes a bail rod portion 138 engageablewith the levers 130-132, `as shown to -best advantage in Figs. 3, 4 and8. The lever -136 also includes an actuating arm 1'40-which carries aroller 142l adapted to be actuated by a cammingarm 144. ln theillustrated arrangement, the camming arm 1'44 is-supyported on apivott146 and` is rigidly connected to -a lever arm 148 having a camslot 150ther'ein. A rollerl152 lis're'ce'ived inl thecamslot'150-'andis'mountedfonhe previously-mentioned arm A118 of Y the tripf lever 140. Through interaction vof 'the roller-152 and tthe camislot150, the lever arm-"148 and the cammingf arm-'14i4aresvi/ung'zounterclockwise 'when the'trip lever `40 is actufatediina-clockwise direction. -The eamming arm144 in turn swings'the'lever136 in a` counterclockwise--Ydirection so thatf'the levers 130-132 willbe similarly actuated.

" Whenl the trip 'lever l40 is returned in a counterclockiwisedirection, under the biasing impetuslof the: spring 58, the leverV arm148 and the camming arm 144 are returned in' c'lo'ckwise'diection so" std'e'le'asthelfefvers With the slides 18, 19 and ff J 5130-1132 forreturn movement. However, the horizontal lever 80 prevents immediatereturn of the levers 130-132. As shown, the levers 13G-132 are formedwith down- Wardly and rearwardly extending arms 154, 155 and 156 whichare engageable with stepped portions 158, 159 and 160 on the lever 80.During the initial clockwise movement of the trip lever 40, the lever 80is shifted rearwardly, in the manner already described, so as to movethe stepped portions 158-160 underneath the return paths of the armsy154-4156. After the trip` lever 40 has been returned in acountercloekwise direction, the lever 80 swings rearwardly andsuccessively releases the levers 130-132 for return movement. Thesuccessive release of the brake levers i130, 1'31 and 132 may stop therotation of a series of wheels or other elements in the selectormechanism 104. Of course, the final position of the selector mechanismdepends upon the action of the brake levers 130-132 In Fig. 3, the lever131 is shown in its initial position, while in Fig. 4 it is shown in itsdisplaced position with its lower arm 1'55 engaged with the lever 80.The initial and forwardly displaced positions of the lever 80 areillustrated in Figs. l and 2, respectively. It will be recalled that therearward return of the lever 80 is retarded by the retarding mechanism92. Thus, an appreciable time normally elapses while the levers 130132are being successively released. Y

In accordance with the present invention, the action of the lever 80 isvaried in a somewhat indeterminate manner so that the levers 130-1132will be released at different times during successive cycles of themachine. In the illustrated machine, the action of the lever 80 isvaried by varying the interaction between the movable arm member `86 andthe lever member 84.

As already noted, the arm 86 and the lever 84 are interconnected bymeans of the roller 88 on the lever 84. A variable factor is introducedbetween the elements 84 and 86 by making the roller 818 eccentric or ofnonuniform radius. By rotating the roller 88 is an impositive orindeterminate manner, it is possible to vary the extent to which thelevers 80 and 84 are swung forwardly by the forward swinging movement ofthe arm '86.

Such indeterminate rotation of the roller I88 is brought about in thepresent case by means of an element 162 which frictionally engages theroller 88 and thereby tends to rotate the roller, particularly duringreturn movement of the lever 84. During the actuating movement of thelever 84, the roller 88 is engaged and rotated to a certain extent bythe arm 86. However, the friction between the arm `86 and the roller t88tends to prevent the element 162 from rotating the roller. During returnmovement of the lever 84, the arm 86 is out of engagement with theroller 88 so that the element 162 may readily rotate the roller.

lt will be seen rthat the lever member `84 and the element 162 aremounted for relative movement. As shown, the element 162 takes the formof an arcuate arm supported on a pivot 164 which is mounted on astationary bracket v166. A spring 167 biases the arm 162 against theroller 88. It will be seen that the arm 162 extends generally along thehorizontal path of the roller 88. Thus, the arm 162 rides on the roller88 during its forward and rearward movement. During the rearwardmovement of the roller 88, the arm 162 frictionally rotates the roller.Due to the impositive connection between the arm 1-62 and the roller8'8, the extent of rotation imparted to the roller is somewhatindeterminate. Thus, the roller 88 may occupy any position at thebeginning of each cycle 'of the machine. -If the roller occupies aposition such that'its portion of greatest radius engages the arm 86,the levers 80 and 84 will be swung forwardly to a maximum extent duringthe next `forward movement of the arm 86. If a portion of the roller 88of smaller radius is positioned to be engaged by the arm 86, the levers80 and 84 will be swung forwardly to a lesser extent.

ln order that the effectiveness of the arm 162 may be enhanced, it ispreferable that the arm carry magnetic means adapted to attract theroller 88. While the arm y162 might itself be magnetized, it ispreferred to mount a separate magnet 168 on the arm. As shown, themagnet f168 takes the form of a small magnetized disk mounted adjacentthe end of the arm 162 by means of a machine screw 170. The circularperiphery ofv the disk magnet 168 extends beyond the arm 162 `and isadapted to engage the peripheryof the roller 88 during a portion of therelative movement between the roller and the arm. The disk magnet 168 ispermanently magnetized and may be made of any magnetic material havingsuitable properties for use in permanent magnets.

In normal operation, the machine is actuated by pushing downwardly onthe front end of the actuating lever 34 so as to move the levercounterclockwise. The pawl 56 on the lever 34 raises the trip arm 54until the arm escapes from the pawls. 'Ihe raising movement of the arm54 results in clockwise actuation of the trip lever 40. When the arm l54escapes from the pawl 56, the biasing spring 58 returns the lever in acounterclockwise direction.

During the clockwise actuation of the trip lever 40, the arm 118 raisesthe locking pawl 112 and actuates the push pin 68 so as to reset any ofthe slides 18-22 which might have previously been moved rearwardly.Il'fhe depending arm 86 on the lever 40 engages the eccentric roller 88and is eiective to swing the levers 84 and forwardly. The extent offorward movement depends upon the initial position of the roller 88. -Ifthe roller 88 is positioned so that a portion of relatively great radiusis engaged by the arm 86, the forward movement of the levers 84 and 80will be relatively great.

. If a portion of relatively small radius is engaged by the arm 86, theforward movement will be relatively small.

The forward movement of the lever 80 releases the master latching lever76 so that the latching arm 74 can move behind the finger 72 on thelowermost slide 18. The latching arm 74 temporarily retains thedispensing slides 18-22 at their most forwardly displaced positions, outof engagement with the latches 106 and with the` apertures 28-32underneath the magazine 12. The articles held in the magazine are thusenabled to descend by gravity into the apertures in the slides.

During the clockwise actuation of the trip lever 40, the levers -132 areswung counterclockwise by the bail rod 138 on the bell crank lever 136,which in turn is actuated by the camming arm 144. It will be recalledthat the camming arm 144 is swung counterclockwise by the interactionbetween the roller 152 on the arm 118 and the cam slot in the lever arm4'148. While the levers 130-132 are thus displaced counterclockwise, thehorizontal lever 80 moves underneath the lower arms 154-156 of thelevers 13G-132.

During the rearward return movement of the lever 80, the levers 130-132are successively released for clockwise return movement. The levers138432 control the selector mechanism, in a manner not material to thepresent invention, so that the latches 106 controlling some or all ofthe dispensing slides 18-22 may be released. Near the end of its returnmovement, the lever 80 swings the latching lever '76 clockwise andthereby releases the latching arm 74 from the linger 72 on the lowermostslide 18. The slides are then free to move rearwardly under the controlof the latches 106. lf

the latch 106 for the lowermost slide 18 is released, the l lowermostslide will move rearwardly until the aperture 28 therein is alined withthe discharge opening 14. In like manner, the other slides 19- 22 may bemoved rearwardly. The articles in the apertures will thus be enabled todescend through the discharge opening by gravity. The lowermost slide 18will be locked in its rearmost position by the locking pawl 112.

During the rearward return movement of the levers 80fandi84,the-arcuatefarm 1,62 rides along the-eccentric roller-88: Thefrictionaldrag, providedby the arme162; rotatesthegroller 88 to l an extentY whichis somewhat@ During a portion of theretur-n-movement" indeterminate; of;the lever 84,- the magnet; 163` rides alonggthefroller.Y Themagnetioattraction between; themagnet 168 and the roller SSienhances thefrictional dragon the Vroller and thus-insuresthatthe roller willA berotated. The elect` oPthearm 162 andthe magnet-)16S is* to rotate theroller 82Std a new yposition sov thatthe `interaction between Vthe arm86 and the lever 84-will be changed duringthe next; cycle ofloperation.l

Variousl modication's," alternative: constructionsl andequivalents maybel employed without departing from the truev spirit and Scope fl theinvention as eXemplilied in the foregoing description and defined in thefollowing,v

claims.

We claim: Y 1; In a dispensing machine, the combination comprising) anactuating lever, an eccentric roller rotatably mounted thereon, aswingable arm engageable with said v roller for Aswinging said lever inone direction, a biasing spring for returning said lever in the oppositedirection, means for retarding return movement of said lever, a pivotedarcuate arm swingable against the periphery of said eccentric roller, abiasing spring urging said arcuate arm against said roller to alforddrag on the` periphery thereof and thereby rotate the same during returnmovement' of said lever, the rotary position of said roller therebybeing changed in a random manner during each return movement of saidleverto vary theA extent ofl the periphery of said roller to transmitthrust between said members, a third movable member extending along thepath of movement of said roller, biasing means urging said third memberagainst said roller to afford frictional drag thereon, said third memberthereby being effectivev to rotateV said roller in arandom mannerduringmovement of said first member andl .thereby lvary they connec-,tion between said first and' secondV members, and magnetic meanscarried by said third member for enhancin the frictional drag on saidroller. l

3'. Al variating mechanism, comprising, inV combination, first andsecond movable members, a roller of nonuniformradius rotatably mountedon said first member to afford a connection between said lirst andsecond members, said second member being engageable with the peripheryof said roller to transmit thrust between said members, a third movablemember extending along the path of movement of said roller, and biasingmeans urging said third member against said roller to afford frictional`drag thereon, said third member thereby being eective to rotate saidroller in a random manner during movement of said iirstmernber andthereby vary theV connection Vbetween said first and second members;

4. In a dispensing machine, the combination comprisingan Aactuatingmember movable in a predetermined path, a roller oignon-uniform radiusrotatably mounted onsaid member, a second movable member engageable saidroller for,v moving saidv actuating member, a third movable member.extending adjacentsaid Vpath, and. biasing lrneansllrging said thirdmember against said roller to, afforddrag thereontand thereby rotatelsaid roller` during movement of saidactuatingmember, saidthird memberbeingvr effective to.A vary the, rotary Vposition of; said roller in arandom manner so as to change the range of second member;`

5i In a'A dispensing machine, the combination` comprismovement-imputedtoe-suchactuatingmember` by said? ingjan-actuatingmember movableinapredeterminedpath, v a roller of non-uniformradiusrotatablymountedonfsaid member, asecond movable-memberengageablewith saidA roller' for movingsaid' actuating member; athirdmovable member extending adjacent said-path; biasing meansurgingsaidl third member against said roller toprafiordL drag thereonand therebyrrotate saidrollery duringrnovement' of said actuatingmember, said'thirdmember being effective-to vary the-movement impartedto such actuatingV member bysaid` second member, and magnet means onVsaid third member toA enhance-the drag thereon.

6'. In adispensing machine, the combination comprising an actuatingmember movable in a predetermined' path, an eccentric roller rotatablymounted on said vmember, a second movable member engageable withA saidroller 'y for moving saidactuating member in one direction along saidpath, meansfor returning said actuating member in the opposite directionalong said path, meansV for, retardingreturn movement of said actuatingmember, a third movablemember extending adjacent said path, biasinglmeans urging said third member against said roller to alord' dragthereon and thereby rotate said roller during movement of saidactuatingmember, said third member'being effective to vary the: rotary positionof said roller in a random manner so as to change the rangeA of movementimparted to such actuating member by said secondmember,V and magnetmeans on said thirdA member to enhance the drag thereon.

7;v In a dispensingmachine, the combination comprisingy an actuatingmember movable in a predetermined' path, an eccentric roller rotatablymounted on said mem-v ber, a second movable member engageable with saidroller for movingtsaid actuating member in one direc` tion along saidpath, means for returning said actuating member inthe oppositeldirection along said path, means for retardingreturn movement of saidactuating member,

a third movable member having a linger extending adjacent saidpath,biasing means urging said linger against said roller to aord. dragthereon and thereby rotate said roller during movement of said actuatingmember, said. nger being effective to vary therotary position of said`roller in a random manner so as to change the range of` movementimparted to such actuating member by saidz second4 member, and a, magnetelement mounted on said.

iinger and engageable. with said roller tok enhance the drag thereon. YY

8.( lnragdispensing machine, the combinationcompris-` ing springV urgingsaid swingable arm against. said roller to afford drag ythereon andthereby rotate the same, the rotary position of said roller therebybeing changed in a random manner to vary the extent of movement of saidlever by said tirst mentioned swing-able arm, and a magnet mountedonsaid swingable arm for engagement with' said-roller to aford enhanceddrag on said roller.

9. A variating mechanism, comprising lirst, second and.

third members, means Imounting said members for relative movement;between. said; first and second members and between saidpfirstzaudthirdmembers, a roller of non-- uniformradius rotatably mounted on said firstmember to afford. atvconnection;bctweerrsaid first and second members,lsaidsecondzmember; beingengageablewith the pe-`- ripberyl of saidroller, -said third member extendingVv along,Y

thev path-of relativer-.movement between,` said third memberf and said`rollerl and engaging/said rollerY to afford frictional. dragr thereomsaid third member thereby being effective to rotate said roller andthereby vary thecnn- Y nection between said lirst and second members.

10. A variating mechanism, comprising first, second and third members,means mounting said members for relative movement between said rst andsecond members and between said irst and third members, a roller ofnon-uniform radius rotatably mounted on said first member to afford aconnection between said first and second members, said second memberbeing engageable with the periphery of said roller to transmit thrustbetween said members, said third member extending along the path ofrelative movement between said roller and said third member, biasingmeans urging said third member against said roller to afford frictionaldrag thereon, said third member thereby being effective to rotate saidroller in a random manner during relative movement between said firstand third members and thereby vary the connection between said first andsecond members, and magnetic means carried by said third member forenhancing the frictional drag on said roller.

11. A variating mechanism, comprising rst and second relatively movablemembers, a roller of non-uniform radius rotatably mounted on said tirstmember, said second member being engageable with said roller to limitrelative movement between said rst and second members, a pivoted arm,biasing means urging said arm against said roller, means mounting saidfirst member and said arm for relative movement therebetween, said armbeing effective to rotate said roller and thereby vary the interactionof said Vtirst and second members, and magnet means on said arm forattracting said roller.

12. A variating mechanism, comprising first and sec- Gnd relativelymovable members, a roller of non-uniform radius rotatably mounted onsaid iirst member, said second member being engageable with said rollerto limit relative movement between said `first and second members, apivoted arm, biasing means urging said arm against said roller, andmeans mounting said rst member and said arm for relative movementtherebetween, said arm being effective to rotate said roller and therebyvary the interaction of said :first and second members.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,372,408 Dyson Mar. 22, 1921 1,602,907 Kingsbury Oct. 12, 19262,481,648 Dehn Sept. 13, 1949 2,573,506 Stokes Oct. 30, 1951

